Improvement in flax-brakes



@anni damit.

A. c. `131LL, or CUYAHOGA rALLsoHIo.

Letters Patent N 0. 94,17 7, dated August 31,1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLAX-BRAKES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters .Patent and making part 0f the same.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, A. G. BILL, of Cuyahoga lalls7 in the county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flax-Brakes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete descriptionv ot' the saine, reference heilig had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of the machine.

Figure 2, a side elevation.

Figure 3, a front elevation.

Figures 4 and 5, detached sections.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views presented.

The natureof this invention relates to a flax-brake, consisting of anV arrangement of revolving vibratory rollers, so constructed and operated that the boon, or woody substance of the llax, is thoroughly broken up, without doing violence to the harl or iibre of the plant, thereby facilitating the preparation of the flax for spinning, Src.

ln the frame A, fig. 2, are hung two pairs of tinted rollers, B C and D E, iigs. 3 and 5.

The upper rollers BA D, ig. 1, are jonrnalled in vibratory hangers F, above the axial line of vibration, in movable blocks G, whereby they can be brought in close relation to the lowery rollers C E, by means of the adjusting-screws- H.

Between the lower end of said screws and the block is interposed spring I.

The lower rollers O E are connected to the hangers by the upperlend of the arms J, in which they are journalled, and whereby the two pairs of rollers are connected to each other by the links K, and oscillated, as and for a purpose hereinafter shown.

.loone end of each of the lower rollers, as it projects through the varms J, is keyed a pinion-wheel, L, iig. 5.

Said pinion is made to engage the wheel M, fig. l, as an inside gearing, and whereby the said,roll ers are iliade toi-evolve, as will hereinafter be described.

N, iig. 3, is a shaft,journalled in the frame, on each end of which is keyed a pinion, O, made to engage the outer rim of the wheels M, whereby said wheels receive motion from the pinion P, through the intervention of the transfer-wheels Q It, iig. 2.

The pinion l is keyed to the crank-shaft S.

To said cranks T are connected the arms J, by the links U, `whereby a vibratory movement is given to the rollers for a purpose hereinafter described.

Having thus described the construction and arrangement oi' the machine, the 4practical operation of the same is as follows, vizi On turning the shaft S, by means of the handf wheel A', it will be obvious that an oscillating movement will be given to the rollers by means ofthe cranks, as the pivotal line of vibration is between the upper and lower rollers; thus, as the two upper rollers move forward at the same time that the two lower rollers are moving backward, this reverse action of the upper and lower rollers causes a reversion oi the rotary movement of the lower rollers 'for about one-half the distance that they had made in their revelution.

This retrogressive movement ofothe rollers is produced by the pinion L, engaged on the inside of the wheels M, which, as the lower rollers move by virtue of their continued vibratoryaetion, the pinions are also carried forward 'at the same time, and, being geared in the wheels M, produce this 'retrogress'ive movement aforesaid.

The wheels M continue to revolve uninterruptedly, and on the backward stroke of the vibration of the rollers, they receive from the wheels M and pinions L a continuation of their rotary progressive' movement, and thus continue in their co-operative andcombined action.

Thus, as the lower rollers, in their vibratory action, move toward the rear end of the machine, and the upper ones toward the front, all the rollers rotate progressively and simultaneously; and so, when the lower rollersswing forward andthe upper ones backward, all the rollers rotate retrogressively about onehalf the distance that they may have made in their progressive rotary movement.

Bythis peculiar combination of movement, it will be obvious that' the flax, onipassing into the rollers, isbroken between the companion rollers in front, by their progressive revolutionary movement, and, before leaving them, is a second time subjected to their action, by their retrogressive movement, and receives a similar treatment from the rear rollers at the same time.

The dust and 'shives are shaken from the flax by the vibration of the rollers.

By this means the stubborn, woody parts'of the flax are completely broken up, so that the fibrous parts, or harl, can Vbe separated therefrom'easily, and with much facility.

As the movements of theirollers are simultaneous and harmonious in their directions, there can be no straining exerted upon the filaments of the flax; hence they are not broken up into short pieces, and thrown away with thewaste.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by' Letters Patent, is-

l. The rollers B C and D E, when arranged in rei lation to each other, and operating conjointly, in the manner as and for the purpose set forth.

f 2. The pivoted hangers F and springs I, in combination with the rollers B C and -D E, when constructed and arranged to operate in relation to each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The 'pinions L and wheels M, in combination ,with the rollers B C and D E, in the manner substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

A. G. BILL.

NVitnesses J. H.BURRIDGE, 'FRNK S. Armas. 

